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The Greek police have taken draconian measures shortly before the commemoration of the student uprising on 17 November 1973. More than 7,000 policemen from different stations in Athens and the province will be in a state of readiness until Monday, when the traditional procession from the Polytechnic School to the US Embassy will take place.

The policemen started guarding the universities in the centre of Athens on Thursday at the request of the rector's councils of the Universities of Athens and of Economics. Their aim is to avoid occupations and damage, which is why the central buildings of both universities will be closed until Monday. Only the Polytechnic School will be open, as the commemoration will take place there.

The strict measures had provoked violent reactions on the part of students and they began protests that did not lack clashes with police.

They began with attempts by the protesters to enter the building of the Law School of the University of Athens. Two students were wounded in the head during the clashes with the police. To repel the protesters, the members of the riot forces used tear gas.

In the afternoon, about 3,000 students held a protest march to the building of the Greek Parliament. Upon passing through the area around the School, there were again tensions between them and the police forces.

The procession continued to the building of the Polytechnic University. Around 300 people tried to break into the yard but the police repelled them, using tear gas.

Meanwhile, the rector’s office of the Polytechnic University has requested assistance from the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection in order to ensure the peaceful commemoration of the anniversary. According to members of the university, "the smooth conduct of the commemoration entirely depends on external factors that are not associated with the university in any way."

There was tension at the Economic University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, where members of two leftist student organizations wanted to hold a general meeting at the central amphitheatre. The university rector rejected their request and when the students tried to enter the room by force, he warned them that he would inform the police. As a result, the 50 students withdrew.

Early on Friday, a group of students broke the door of the rector’s office of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and occupied the building.

It is expected that the police measures in Athens and Thessaloniki will intensify, as the authorities are concerned that the conflict associated with the changes in the education system could drive different groups to cause unrest inside and outside universities.

On Monday, 17 November, police units from the province will arrive in Athens to strengthen the police presence. The planned measures also include preventive checks in areas outside the centre of Athens.

On Friday afternoon there will be another protest outside the rector’s office of the University of Athens.

To be continued